The exercise value of martial arts practice as part of daily routine was
recognized and described by the monk Dao Xuan (A.D. 596–667), in his
Further Biographies of Eminent Monks.His description, however, is not of
monks but of a devout Buddhist Indian prince, of warrior caste, who prac-
ticed after dinner.
The monasteries were powerful institutions—sometimes considered
dangerously so. In a persecution in A.D. 446, Emperor Taiwu is reported to
have personally led a raid on monasteries in and around Changan (now
Xian), which uncovered various activities such as moonshine production,
weapons caches, and even prostitution. Emperor Xiaowu (532–534) is
recorded as having a contingent of Buddhist monks fight for him during his
retreat as the dynasty collapsed.
Religion and Spiritual Development: China 457A Chinese Daoist
monk, ca. 1955.
(Hulton Archive)